Euro 2012

[notredomer23]

I would love for Italy to win but can't see them beating Germany. Germany Spain final should be epic

 

[notredomer23]

+1. England had no attempts on goal 1st half Maybe 2 in 2nd. Both commentators did nothing but comment on Italy (Pirlo's ball control). Hart is going to be a good one no doubt but penalty kicks favor the prepared and Buffon is about as prepared as anyone. But Buffon is well.....the best and in a tie with Iker Cassillas as the best.

Its like Ice Man And Maverick.....

I guess when I called the announcers biased it was a little harsh... But they kept praising Joe Hart throughout the game and made it sound like England had a huge advantage if it went to penalties because of Joe Hart. I guess its hard to judge when England maybe had two shots after the first five minutes so they didn't really need to talk about Buffon at all.

 

[IrishBlood81]

Goodness I hope Spain beats Portugal! Its gonna be a killer game tho hope I can see some of it but have to work the beginning!

 

[irishrecruiting]

I guess when I called the announcers biased it was a little harsh... But they kept praising Joe Hart throughout the game and made it sound like England had a huge advantage if it went to penalties because of Joe Hart. I guess its hard to judge when England maybe had two shots after the first five minutes so they didn't really need to talk about Buffon at all.

I think you're right about why they kept talking about Hart. He's a great goalkeeper, but Buffon is one of the best in the last decade (if not THE) with Iker Casillas.

Hart's certainly a rising star and, given recent goalkeeper history, probably the best they've had at a tournament since David Seaman/1996. But Hart had over 30 shots at his net I think (or 20...the stats were crazy). Buffon had to make maybe four real saves the entire game, if that. That's probably why they were talking about Hart so much, and he really is great in the EPL.

 

[Cackalacky]

I guess when I called the announcers biased it was a little harsh... But they kept praising Joe Hart throughout the game and made it sound like England had a huge advantage if it went to penalties because of Joe Hart.

I think they the were praising Hart because England has been shite at GK for a longggggggg time and he is the best they have in a long time. He made some good saves during regular time as well.

I guess its hard to judge when England maybe had two shots after the first five minutes so they didn't really need to talk about Buffon at all

Yes.

 

[STLDomer]

Some extra motivation for today's game for the most underrated player in the tournament:

“@bghayward: Widespread reports in Spanish press that Barcelona + Valencia have come to an agreement for the transfer of Jordi Alba for €12m plus add-ons”

Get a young CB and Barca is back on top.

 

[STLDomer]

Haha Ramos just did the same thing Pirlo did, next PK Portugal misses.

Ronaldo's ego got the best of him, wanted to go last, never got the chance

 

[Sherm Sticky]

 

[STLDomer]

Hate to say I told you so, but I've had a Balotelli Italy jersey for almost two years now, just saying...

 

[ACamp1900]

wow... Germany's defense??

 

[STLDomer]

wow... Germany's defense??

Badstuber & Boateng leave some to be desired by the bigger story IMO is the vanshing act Schweinsteiger has pulled off lately & Jogi Low's arrogance biting him in the butt

 

[NDPhilly]

Right now I'm in a town in Tuscany watching the game. Absolutely amazing atmosphere. My group will be in Rome the day of the final which will be amazing if Italy hangs on.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Hate to say I told you so, but I've had a Balotelli Italy jersey for almost two years now, just saying...

Balotelli=#reckless

 

[notredomer23]

Hate to say I told you so, but I've had a Balotelli Italy jersey for almost two years now, just saying...

As have I, except a manchester city one

 

[Cackalacky]

As have I, except a manchester city one

totally surprised.

 

[notredomer23]

totally surprised.

Why haha? Unlike many city supporters I love balotelli. I think him and aguero will be the deadliest combination of forwards in professional football if the antics and temper can be held at bay.

 

[STLDomer]

This might be good for Germany for the World Cup '14, humbling for the youngsters, they will be the favorites IMO

Boateng- Hummels-Badstuber-Lahm (maybe too old?)
------------Kroos------Khedira
Reus/Muller---Ozil/Gotze-----Podolski/Ozil
------------Gomez/Muller


All of them them except Lahm should be in there prime in '14

 

[Cackalacky]

Why haha? Unlike many city supporters I love balotelli. I think him and aguero will be the deadliest combination of forwards in professional football if the antics and temper can be held at bay.

not balotelli.... Dude's good, just a screwball. Italy....I did not see that coming. I also was unable to watch and looked at the score in the 82'. So yeah, I was totally surprised...LOL

 

[notredomer23]

FWIW was really 2-0. That was not a handball, at all.

Had Balotelli not gotten hurt I easily coulda seen him put in a third with that swiss cheese defense

 

[STLDomer]

"When I score I don't celebrate, because I do my work. When the postman delivers your letter, does he celebrate?" - Mario Balotelli

 

[NDinL.A.]

Hate to say I told you so, but I've had a Balotelli Italy jersey for almost two years now, just saying...

Thats actually not saying a ton, cause he's been a known commodity for quite some time for anyone who follows European soccer. This is not like he came out of nowhere. The issue with him has bever been talent. Two goals today does not erase the fact that he might be clinically insane LOL. There will always be the question w/ him: Does his immense talent outweigh the headaches he gives you? With players like him, sometimes it does, sometimes it tears a team apart. It's working for Italy right now though...

 

[Whiskeyjack]

"When I score I don't celebrate, because I do my work. When the postman delivers your letter, does he celebrate?" - Mario Balotelli

No, he apparently rips off his shirt and gives you a "Come at me, Bro" death stare.

 

[TheSunIsRising]

Thats actually not saying a ton, cause he's been a known commodity for quite some time for anyone who follows European soccer. This is not like he came out of nowhere. The issue with him has bever been talent. Two goals today does not erase the fact that he might be clinically insane LOL. There will always be the question w/ him: Does his immense talent outweigh the headaches he gives you? With players like him, sometimes it does, sometimes it tears a team apart. It's working for Italy right now though...

Great synopsis; Balotelli still needs to prove that he can sustain the level of play and also NOT be a head case. Had a great game though.

Hate to say I told you so, but I've had a Balotelli Italy jersey for almost two years now, just saying...

Haha. You also taking credit for the Dutch winning it all prediction??

 

[NDinL.A.]

Ronaldo's ego got the best of him, wanted to go last, never got the chance

That's the popular opinion, and people have been blasting Ronaldo for it. I just don't see it that way at all. In other sports, people are lauded for wanting to take the last shot. It takes major stones to go in front of the whole world and put your entire country's dreams on your back. Just think about that. And Ronaldo wanted it; he wanted that pressure. And he's missed PK's before for Real (went first both times in major tournaments and missed both times), so there was a HUGE risk that he could have been the ultimate goat, but he wanted the pressure anyways. Yeah, it also shows ego, but name one world-class athlete that doesn't have an ego?

You know who else asked his coach to go last? Cesc Fabregas. He was slated to go 2nd, but told his coach he wanted to go last, and he nailed the kick. Did anybody question Cesc and criticize him for his gigantic ego? Of course not. So for me, what Ronaldo did was not a problem at all.

As a coach, it's a tough call...you want your best kicker to be there for you with the match on the line, but yet you want to make sure he gets a kick. I coach youth soccer and we had this situation just a couple of months ago in the playoffs. I went back and forth on where to put my star. I ended up having him kick 3rd, b/c I wanted to make sure he got to kick (we ended up losing on the 10th kicker, so it was a moot point).

 

[STLDomer]

Even though it wasnt your main point, Fabregas wanting to go last was more out of having a chip on his shoulder for not starting over ego. Fabregas doesn't have an ego at all IMO, one of the top midfielders in the world and he isn't consistently starting? Gotta be tough to deal with


For the most part wanting to go last would seem honorable, but IMO Ronaldo, Messi, Rooney players like that should be going 1st, they are the leaders of the team and them stepping up lifts the team.

It may take guts and be great if you win the game for your country but IMO u have to go first or at worst third, if I recall Balotelli went first and Pirlo went 3rd (pretty sure Pirlo went third but he may have gone 4th) for Italy which I think is perfect.

I thought Portugal overall messed up the PKs, Bento's fault. He brings on Varela & Oliveria and has Fabio Coentrao (sp?) and none of them shoot. Instead Bruno Alves is cautiously going? I don't get that at all.

 

[STLDomer]

Some interesting stuff on the most interesting sports figure in the world IMO:

- He was raised in Italy by his Ghanian parents before they give him up to an adopted mother because of poor conditions and then refused to go back to his real parents later because he thinks they only want him for his fame

- His first big trial was w/ Barcelona and he was passed on (Image) Mario Balotelli Turned Down By Barcelona at Age 15 | CaughtOffside

- He recieves racial discrimination by media across Europe including Italian papers

- He is EXTREMELY charitable

- He dedicated the semifinal to his adopted mother

IMO he has had a very tough childhood ( he's only what 21 now?) and learning to behave and socially be with others. He will still mess up a lot but when it counts he will deliver.

Also he's hilarious:

“@Euro2012_NOW: Mario Balotelli: "I will invite Shakira to the final, so that she can see what I will do to her boyfriend ."”

 

[NDinL.A.]

The worst two things are the way his parents abandoned him, and the pathetic racism that he has to endure.

But when is enough enough? You make it sound like he is this great guy (he's given some things away, but in no way is he"EXTREMELY charitable") who has made some mistakes that we should ignore because of his youth. His youth excuse is getting old. Many of his Man City teammates wanted him kicked off the team this year, with all the red cards (4 in one season???), the suspensions, the dirty tackles (how the ref missed his dirty tackle on Song is beyond me, and that would have resulted in a 9 game suspension if not for the draconion FA rules that don't allow players to face consequences after the fact if the ref doesn't see the deed in a game), the stamp on Scotty Parker, fighting with teammates during games if he doesn't get his way, the TV/AC Milan incident, etc etc.

The dude has an insane amount of talent, but is also immature to the point of making me want to forget his troubles and just root completely against him. He's gotta grow up some time...

 

[CTIDANDREW]

The worst two things are the way his parents abandoned him, and the pathetic racism that he has to endure.

But when is enough enough? You make it sound like he is this great guy (he's given some things away, but in no way is he"EXTREMELY charitable") who has made some mistakes that we should ignore because of his youth. His youth excuse is getting old. Many of his Man City teammates wanted him kicked off the team this year, with all the red cards (4 in one season???), the suspensions, the dirty tackles (how the ref missed his dirty tackle on Song is beyond me, and that would have resulted in a 9 game suspension if not for the draconion FA rules that don't allow players to face consequences after the fact if the ref doesn't see the deed in a game), the stamp on Scotty Parker, fighting with teammates during games if he doesn't get his way, the TV/AC Milan incident, etc etc.

The dude has an insane amount of talent, but is also immature to the point of making me want to forget his troubles and just root completely against him. He's gotta grow up some time...

That never happened, dont believe everything you read in the papers.

 

[ACamp1900]

GO SCOTLAND!!!!

@Thefreakinbrave

 

[mgriff]

He threw lawn darts at youth team players because he was bored. Yea he also does some great charitable work, but give me a ****ing break. You have to have a severe detachment to try to injure someone because you're bored.